Driving a hire van can be a daunting task under normal circumstances, but when heavy rain hits and roads become flooded, the challenge intensifies. According to the AA, a staggering one-third of flood-related deaths occur in vehicles. This statistic underscores the importance of understanding how to navigate flooded roads safely, especially if you’re using Warrington Van Rental Services. In this blog post, we’ll share essential tips on how to drive a hire van on flooded roads to help keep you safe.
Drive Slowly
One of the most critical tips for driving in flooded conditions is to reduce your speed. Water on the road surface can significantly decrease your tyres’ grip, leading to potential loss of steering control or even aquaplaning. When driving through waterlogged areas, it’s vital to approach with caution.
If you start to feel your van losing grip, gently ease off the accelerator and maintain a light hold on the steering wheel until you regain control. Remember that patience is key; rushing through flooded areas can lead to dangerous situations.
Test Water Depth Before You Set Off
Before embarking on your journey through potentially flooded roads, it’s wise to assess the water depth first. A simple tape measure can be invaluable here. As a general rule of thumb, avoid driving through any water deeper than 10 cm (approximately 4 inches). Even if your hire van seems capable of handling deeper waters, it’s better not to take unnecessary risks.
Don’t Make a Splash
While it might be tempting to splash pedestrians or cyclists as you drive through puddles, this behaviour can have serious consequences. Not only could it lead to points on your licence or fines, but it also poses risks for those around you.
When approaching large puddles or standing water, reduce your speed to a crawl if you must go through them. This will minimise splashing and help maintain better control over your vehicle.
Test Your Brakes After Passing Through Water
After navigating through any flooded areas, always remember to test your brakes when it’s safe to do so. Water can cause brake pads and discs to become slippery or less effective temporarily. By applying gentle pressure on the brakes after passing through waterlogged sections of road, you’ll help dry them off and ensure they are functioning correctly before continuing your journey.
Stay Inside Your Van If It Breaks Down
If your hire van breaks down while traversing flooded roads, pull over immediately and stay inside unless you’re stranded on the hard shoulder of a motorway. In that case, turn on your hazard lights and find a safe position as far left as possible.
Staying inside offers protection from potential hazards outside while waiting for assistance. If you’re in an area prone to flooding, it’s crucial not only for safety but also because leaving your vehicle could expose you to swift currents or other dangers.
Use Your Lights Wisely
Visibility is often severely compromised during heavy rain and flooding conditions; therefore, using lights appropriately is essential for safe driving. The rule is simple: wipers on – lights on! This ensures that other drivers can see you clearly in poor weather conditions.
If visibility drops below 100 metres due to heavy rain or foggy conditions, consider using fog lights as well; however, remember that these should be switched off once visibility improves since they can dazzle other drivers.
Don’t Stop Moving in Deep Water
Bringing your hire van to a complete stop while in deep water can lead to significant damage by allowing water into critical components like the exhaust pipe. If possible, keep moving at a steady pace until you’ve safely exited the flood zone.
However, if an unscheduled stop becomes necessary due either mechanical issues or other emergencies while you’re still in deep water—keep engine revs up! Maintaining higher revs reduces the likelihood of seizing while stationary and helps prevent further complications with engine performance.
Driving under heavy rain conditions presents unique challenges—especially when navigating flooded roads with a hire van from Warrington Van Rental Services. By following these essential tips—driving slowly, testing water depth, avoiding splashes, checking brakes after passing through floods, staying inside during breakdowns, using lights wisely, and keeping moving—you’ll enhance both your safety and that of others around you during adverse weather conditions.
Remember that preparation is key before entering potentially hazardous situations like flooding—so stay informed about local weather forecasts and road conditions whenever possible! Safe travels!
Van Hire Warrington
For Warrington Van Hire, there is only one choice. We can offer secure on-site car parking at our Warrington town centre base and our customers can use it throughout the period of their van hire. We are situated close to the main transport networks in Warrington: the bus and train interchanges are within walking distance. For Van Hire Runcorn, Van Hire Warrington, Van Hire Widnes, Van Hire Altrincham & Van Hire St Helens contact us today to check availability.
